About Chuck Howard, IOA Executive Director
 On September 1, 2019, Chuck Howard became the Executive Director of the International Ombudsman Association. Previously, he was a Partner and General Counsel of the law firm of Shipman & Goodwin LLP, resident in its Hartford, Connecticut office. For almost thirty years Chuck represented ombuds offices at major corporations, universities, research facilities, and other organizations throughout the United States as independent counsel. He is the author of The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations - A Legal Guide, published by the American Bar Association in January 2010, and is a frequent presenter and writer on ombuds issues.
From 1985 to 2000, Chuck was Chair of the Shipman & Goodwin’s Litigation Department. His litigation practice included business and intellectual property litigation, as well as the representation of public, quasi-public, and state governmental entities in a wide range of matters, including in over 75 appeals. He has been included in Best Lawyers in America® in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Arbitration, and Mediation. He has been recognized by Law & Politics as a Connecticut Super Lawyer® in the Intellectual Property Litigation practice area.
Throughout his career, Chuck has been active in numerous civic and professional activities. Among these was his service from 2002–2004 on the Ad Hoc Advisory Group to the United States Sentencing Commission, which recommended revisions to the federal organizational sentencing guidelines. In 2012 he received an Award of Special Recognition from the International Ombudsman Association for “his significant contributions to, and effort in support of, the organizational ombudsman profession.” From 2014–2018, he served as the Chair or Co-Chair of the Ombuds Committee of the Dispute Resolution Section of the American Bar Association and on the Dispute Resolution Section Council. In 2019, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Connecticut Law Tribune for his legal accomplishments and civic activities and the New England Trailblazer Award by Law.com and the Connecticut Law Tribune for his advocacy on behalf of organizational ombuds programs.
He is a graduate of the Woodrow Wilson School for Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and of the University of Virginia School of Law.
Articles & Publications (2010-Present)
What Happens When an Employee Calls the Ombudsman?
Harvard Business Review, May-June 2020
By Charles L. Howard
Avoid Being a Whistleblower With Safe Place Ombudsman Programs
Bloomberg Law, December 2, 2019
By Charles L. Howard
A Law Firm Ombuds – A Program Worth Considering
American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Just Resolutions Newsletter, September 2018
By Vaughan Finn and Chuck Howard
A Broader View of Dispute Resolution
Dispute Resolution Magazine, Fall 2016
By Charles L. Howard
Understanding the Types of Ombudsman: A Starter Guide
American Bar Association Dispute Resolution Section Just Resolutions Newsletter, February 2015
By Julie C. Smith and Charles L. Howard
A Fresh Look at The Organizational Ombudsman
SWE, Winter 2012
By Meredith Holmes
Promoting an Ethical Culture: The Organizational Ombudsman
Compliance & Ethics Professional, Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, August 2010
By Charles L. Howard
Ombudsmen Are Valuable Supplement to Compliance Efforts
Bureau of National Affairs, Inc., June 21, 2010
By Charles L. Howard
The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles and Operations - A Legal Guide
ABA Book Publishing, 2010
By Charles L. Howard
View the book's brochure for more details.
Presentations on Ombuds Issues (1999-Present)
Labor and Employment Coalition of the Conference Board
Presenter with Adam Learman, Pfizer: “How Ombuds Programs Enhance the Workplace Environment”
June 17, 2020
University Risk Managers and Insurance Association (URMIA) webinar
Presenter with Melanie Jagneaux and Joan Waters: “How an Organizational Ombuds Program Can Help a University Mitigate Risk”
May 28, 2020
Catalyst, Inc. Expert Community Presentation
Presenter with Sana Manjeshwar, Chevron, and Suzanne Diviney, Pfizer: "Webinar: How Ombuds Programs Empower Women and Support Inclusion in the Workforce"
May 7, 2020
Pinnacle Consortium of Higher Education
Presenter: "How an Organizational Ombuds Program Can Help a University Mitigate Risk" (with Marcia Martinez-Helfman and Ruthy Kohorn Rosenberg)
Providence, Rhode Island
October 24, 2019
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section: Ombuds Committee
Keynote Speaker: 2019 Ombuds Day Program
Washington, D.C.
October 10, 2019
Read Keynote Speech Transcript
United States Ombudsman Association 38th Annual Conference
Presenter: “The Educational Ombudsman: A Valuable Tool for Early Dispute Resolution” (with Judi Martin)
San Antonio, Texas
October 4, 2017
IOA 12th Annual Conference
Moderator, Panel Presentation: “Education Conflict Resolution: Establishing Ombuds Programs in K-12 Schools” (with Nancy Deering, Esther Salinas, and Joyanna Smith)
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 24, 2017
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section 2017 Spring Conference
Moderator, Panel Presentation: “Education Conflict Resolution: Establishing Ombuds Programs in K-12 Schools” (with Joyanna Smith, Judi Martin, and Jollee Faber Patterson)
San Francisco, California
April 19, 2017
National School Board Association Conference
Moderator, Panel Presentation: “The Educational Ombudsman: A Valuable Tool for Early Dispute Resolution” (with Esther Salinas, Judi Martin, and Jollee Faber Patterson)
Denver, Colorado
March 26, 2017
University of Connecticut School of Law—CT Mediation Association
Presenter on Ombudsman Programs
West Hartford, Connecticut
April 19, 2016
IOA 11th Annual Conference
Concurrent Session Presenter: “United States Legal Update”
Concurrent Session Presenter: “Report on Activities of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section Ombuds Committee”
Seattle, Washington
April 11–12, 2016
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section 2016 Spring Conference
Presenter: “Ombuds Committee Task Force on Ombuds Lecture Materials for Law Schools”
New York, New York
April 8, 2016
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Guest Lecturer on Ombuds Issues: Introduction to Dispute Resolution in Healthcare Course
Hamden, Connecticut
March 7, 2016
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section 2015 Spring Conference
Moderator, Panel Presentation: “An Effective Conflict Management System: The Critical Role of the Ombudsman” (with Sara Thacker, Jonathan Stier, and Melanie Lewis)
Seattle, Washington
April 16, 2015
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Guest Lecturer on Ombuds Issues: Introduction to Dispute Resolution in Healthcare Course
Hamden, Connecticut
March 2, 2015
Asia-Pacific International Mediation Summit
Presenter: “Dispute Resolution in Companies and Other Organizations”
New Delhi, India
February 14, 2015
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Guest Lecturer on Ombuds Issues: Course on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Hamden, Connecticut
November 12, 2014
IOA 9th Annual Conference
Concurrent Session Presenter: “United States Legal Update”
Plenary Session Presenter: “What Should be Next for Organizational Ombuds—Some Ideas for Future Legal Developments”
Denver, Colorado
April 8–9, 2014
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section 2014 Spring Conference
Moderator, Panel Presentation: “Introduction to Ombuds Practices”
Miami, Florida
April 3, 2014
Columbia University—School of Continuing Education
Guest Lecturer on Advanced Ombuds Practice & Organizational Change: Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program
New York, New York
March 1, 2014
National Association of Corporate Directors—Master Class
Presenter: “Asymmetric Information Risk: The Role of the Ombudsman” (with Jonathan McBride)
Miami, Florida
December 12–13, 2013
Corporate Organizational Ombudsman Roundtable
Presenter: “What’s Next in the Ombuds World: Ideas for Future Legal Developments”
Atlanta, Georgia
October 8, 2013
12th Annual Coalition of Federal Ombuds Conference
Presenter: “Legal Updates and Significant Cases”
Arlington, Virginia
September 30, 2013
National Association of Corporate Directors—Master Class
Presenter: “Asymmetric Information Risk: The Role of the Ombudsman” (with Stephen Norman)
Boston, Massachusetts
June 13–14, 2013
D.C. Bar Association Webinar
Panelist: “The Role of Corporate Ombuds: An Organizational Partner for Risk Mitigation and Conflict Prevention”
May 15, 2013
IOA 8th Annual Conference
Presenter: “Update on the ‘Dear Colleague Letter’ and Confidentiality in the Education Sector” (with Thomas A. Kosakowski)
Miami, Florida
April 19–24, 2013
The Marie Garibaldi ADR Inn of Court/NJ State Bar Association DRS and the NJ Association of Professional Mediators
Presenter: “Workplace Dispute Resolution: The Role of The Organizational Ombudsman”
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
February 26, 2013
Organizational Ombudsman Programs—Quinnipiac University School of Law
Guest Lecturer on Ombuds Issues: Ethics and Corporate Compliance Course
Hamden, Connecticut
February 25, 2013
Columbia University: School of Continuing Education
Guest Lecturer on Advanced Ombuds Practice & Organizational Change: Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program
New York, New York
February 16, 2013
ADR Lunchtime Series Presentation
Panelist - Brown Bag Lunch: “How an Ombuds Office Serving Employees, Customers, and Citizens Can Bring Greater Success to Your Agency”
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.
February 7, 2013
D.C. Bar Presentation
Panelist: “The Role of Corporate Ombuds: An Organizational Partner for Risk Mitigation and Conflict Prevention”
Office of Hogan Lovells, Washington, D.C.
January 3, 2013
Society of Women Engineers Annual Conference
Presenter: “Building a Better Workplace Through the Organizational Ombuds”
Houston, Texas
November 8, 2012
Southeast Conference on Conflict Management
Presenter: “Workplace Conflict and Reporting: The Role of an Organizational Ombudsman and the Importance of Confidential Communications”
Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee
September 25, 2012
National Roundtable on Employment Dispute Resolution
Roundtable Participant: Penn State University Dickinson School of Law
State College, Pennsylvania
September 7, 2012
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 10th Annual Higher Education Compliance Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Whistleblower Crosscurrents: The Limitations of Whistleblower Laws”
Austin, Texas
June 5, 2012
Texas House of Representatives Judiciary Committee
Testimony in support of Ombuds Shield Law
Austin, Texas
April 18, 2012
IOA 7th Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Confidentiality as a Standard of Practice: Challenged and Challenging”
Houston, Texas
April 16, 2012
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Guest Lecturer on Ombuds Issues: Course on Alternative Dispute Resolution
Hamden, Connecticut
March 26, 2012
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
Webinar Panel Presentation: “Encouraging Reporting & Protecting Whistleblowers”
February 28, 2012
Columbia University: School of Continuing Education
Guest Lecturer on Advanced Ombuds Practice & Organizational Change: Master of Science in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Program
New York, New York
February 12, 2012
Rock Center for Corporate Governance Stanford Law School
Panel Presentation: “From Dangerous Silence to a Culture of Trust”
Stanford, California
October 20, 2011
Available at:
http://rockcenter.stanford.edu/2011/11/01/from-dangerous-silence-to-culture-of-trust/
http://corpgov.proxyexchange.org/2011/10/the-governance-ombuds-svnacd-stanfords-rock-center/#more-9140
National Association of Corporate Directors, Silicon Valley Chapter
Panel Presentation: “An Inspector General for Corporate America: The Governance Ombudsman”
Palo Alto, California
October 20, 2011
View Follow-up Interview Recording
Minnesota Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section 14th Annual ADR Institute
Presentation: “Resolving Workplace Conflict—The Role of the Organizational Ombudsman”
Minneapolis, Minnesota
October 14, 2011
Marquette University Law School: Marquette University Office of the Ombuds and the Marquette University Law School Dispute Resolution Society
Featured Speaker: “Blowing the Whistle on Whistleblower Laws and Polices—Why Fear of Retaliation Limits Their Effectiveness”
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
October 13, 2011
The Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA)
The Friday Focus Series Presentation: "The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations-A Legal Guide"
Rocky Hill, Connecticut
July 8, 2011
Defense Industry Initiative (DII) Best Practices Forum 25th Anniversary Conference
Panel Presentation: “Addressing the Culture of Fear”
Washington, D.C.
June 23, 2011
RAND Corporation Whistleblower Symposium
Participant at Roundtable Symposium: “For Whom the Whistle Blows: Advancing Corporate Integrity and Compliance Efforts in the Era of Dodd-Frank”
Arlington, Virginia
May 11, 2011
Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac-Yale Dispute Resolution Workshop Presentation on The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations-A Legal Guide
February 24, 2011
View Recording
Princeton University
Featured Speaker: “Bridging the Gap—Creating a Fair and Impartial Culture”
Presentation Hosted by Princeton University Ombuds Office, Office of Audit and Compliance, and Program in Law and Public Affairs
Princeton, New Jersey
November 23, 2010
The Institute of Internal Auditors, Philadelphia Chapter 2010 Fall Conference
Chief Internal Auditor Track Breakout Session Presentation: “The Role of the Organizational Ombudsman”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 22, 2010
Ombuds of Texas
Quarterly Meeting
Featured Speaker: Presentation on The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations—A Legal Guide
Austin, Texas
November 10, 2010
California Caucus of College and University Ombuds 37th Annual Conference
Dinner Speaker: “Cultivating a Sustainable Relationship with Corporate Counsel”
Pacific Grove, California
November 8, 2010
Southern California Mediation Association 22nd Annual Fall Conference
Panel Presentation: “Career Alternatives for ADR Professionals”
Malibu, California
November 6, 2010
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics
Webinar Presentation: “Extending the Reach of Your Compliance Program: How an Organizational Ombudsman Can be a Valuable Supplement to Compliance”
June 3, 2010
Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 8th Annual Conference for Effective Compliance Systems in Higher Education
Plenary Presentation: “Re-examining and Supplementing Your Compliance Tools”
Dallas, Texas
April 23, 2010
IOA 5th Annual Conference
Plenary Presentation: “The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations”
New Orleans, Louisiana
April 8, 2010
East Coast Ombuds Group
Featured Speaker on The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations—A Legal Guide at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, Massachusetts
March 22, 2010
Southeast Ombuds Group
Featured Speaker on The Organizational Ombudsman: Origins, Roles, and Operations—A Legal Guide at Coca-Cola Enterprises Offices
Atlanta, Georgia
February 10, 2010
Connecticut Bar Association
Panel Presentation: “An ADR Professional’s Guide: Health Care Industry Cultural Differences and Regulatory ADR Framework”
Hartford, Connecticut
June 8, 2009
National Association of College and University Attorneys 48th Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Ombuds and Other Alternatives to Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Disputes”
New York, New York
June 25, 2008
IOA 3rd Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Legal and Practical Considerations for the Contract Ombudsman”
Boston, Massachusetts
April 14, 2008
IOA 3rd Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Current Legal Issues for Ombudsman Programs”
Boston, Massachusetts
April 13, 2008
IOA 2nd Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Legal and Legislative Update”
St. Louis, Missouri
April 12, 2007
Connecticut Bar Association - Alternative Dispute Resolution Section
Featured Speaker: “Organizational Ombuds Programs”
Hartford, Connecticut
January 9, 2007
Association for Conflict Resolution 6th Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Establishing a Complete Conflict Resolution System: To Ensure Transparency, Ethics and Risk Mitigation”
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 26, 2006
Miller & Martin PLLC
Half-Day Presentation for outside counsel for Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. on ombuds issues
Chattanooga, Tennessee
August 3, 2006
ABA, Dispute Resolution Section 8th Annual Spring Conference
Panel Presentation: “Implementation of Ombuds Programs in Hospital Systems: Objectives and Benefits”
April 2006
IOA 1st Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Meeting the Hot Line Challenge”
Panel Presentation: “United States Legal and Legislative Update”
San Diego, California
April 2006
IOA October 2005 Specialized Course
Specialized Course: “Upward Feedback, Notice, and Confidentiality”
Alexandria, Virginia
October 2005
The American Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals
Panel Presentation on Ombuds Issues, Joint Regional Fall Conference
Wilmington, Delaware
September 2005
The Ombudsman Association
Full-Day Course on Ombuds Legal Issues: “Legal Issues From the Edge”
Chicago, Illinois
July 2005
The Ombudsman Association Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Ombuds Legal and Professional Standards Update”
Atlanta, Georgia
April 2005
LRN Knowledge Forum
Panel Presentation: “Protecting Confidentiality of Ombuds Communications”
Los Angeles, California
February 2005
California Caucus of College and University Ombudsman, 31st Annual Asilomar Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Ombuds Legal and Professional Standards Update”
Pacific Grove, California
November 2004
The Ombudsman Association and University and College Ombuds Association Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Ombuds Legal Update”
Tucson, Arizona
April 2004
Ethics Officer Association Annual Conference
Breakout Session Presentation: “Protecting Confidentiality: The Ombuds Privilege”
Orlando, Florida
October 2003
Clemson University
Half-Day Presentation on Ombuds Issues at the Department Chair’s and Dean’s Retreat
Clemson, South Carolina
August 2003
The Ombudsman Association Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Legislative and Professional Developments Impacting Ombuds”
Orlando, Florida
May 2003
University and College Ombuds Association Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Ombuds Confidentiality Privilege”
Denver, Colorado
April 2003
Redmond, Williams Seminar
Presentation: “Ombuds Confidentiality”
New York, New York
February 2003
The Ombudsman Association
Full-Day Course: “Ombuds Deposition Training”
Washington, D.C.
October 2002
The Ombudsman Association Annual Conference
Pre-Conference Course: “Ombuds Deposition Training”
Arlington, Virginia
May 2002
Columbia Teachers College
Guest Lecturer: “Role of Ombuds in Dispute Resolution”
New York, New York
August 2001
The Ombudsman Association Annual Conference
Plenary Session Presentation: “Ombuds Legal Issues”
Houston, Texas
May 2001
The Ombudsman Association Annual Conference
Presentation: “Role of Counsel”
San Francisco, California
May 2000
ABA Section on Dispute Resolution
Panel Presentation: “Breaking Down the Barriers ADR in the New Millennium”
Boston, Massachusetts
April/May 1999
The Ombudsman Association (TOA) Annual Conference
Panel Presentation: “Shared Responsibility: The Role of Ombuds and Counsel”
Phoenix, Arizona
May 1999
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